Car-axle lubricator



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. GODLEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-AXLE LUB RICATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,555, dated September 27, 1881.

Application filed July '29, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. GonLEY, a citizen of theUnited States, resident of the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oiling Attachments for Gar-Axle Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a car-axle box and my improved oiling attachment. Fig.2is a front elevation of the attachment. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a modification thereof. Fig. 4 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a modification of the oiling attachment. Figs. 5 and 6 are elevations of detail modifications'of the same. Fig. 7 is a section of another modification of the pumping device. Fig. 8 is a side elevation thereof; and Figs. 9 and 10 are details, showing modified constructions of the eccentric devices.

My invention has relation to oiling attachments for car-axle boxes, and has especial reference to that class of attachments consisting of a pump or similar devices; and my invention has for its primary object to provide improved means for operating the pumping attachments; and, secondly, to cheapen and simplify the construction of the pump, whereby it is exposed to less wear and tear, and thereby rendered more durable.

My invention accordingly consists, first, of a car-axle box provided with a pump and intermediate mechanism between said pump and the axle-journal, whereby said pump is operated by the revolution of said journal to lift oil from the well in the axle-box to the axle-bearings, said intermediate mechanism being constructedvand arranged so as to be adjustable for effecting a variation in the throw of the plunger or pump, as hereinafter more particularly set forth; second, to the provision of a plunger orpump formed of a tube having suitable valve 01 valves and provided with a flaring or enlarged lower end designed to be submerged in the oil contained in the axle-box,

whereby, when said pump is reciprocated, its flaring end will cause the oil to pass into the pump and be lifted to the journal-bearing under a greater velocity than would be the case 'of bolt d, so as to pass thereon. when a hole is bored near or to one side of the (No model.)

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A

represents the car-axle box B, the journal of the axle, and 1) its bearing.

0 represents a plunger or pump supported and having a' longitudinal movement in lugs c a, secured to or formed on the floor or sides of said box or said lugs or a frame for holding said pump may be attached to the lid of the box. Said pump consists of a hollow cylinder or tube having a seat, 0', at its lower end fora ball or other valve, 0 and is provided at such extremity with a flaring or enlarged end,c secured thereto by a screw-thread, as shown or it may be fastened to or cast on said tube in any other suitable manner. The upper end of tube 0 is closed, and has a projecting lug or arm, 0

p D represents an eccentric device secured to the front end of the axle-journal. Said eccentric may be formed in various ways, as hereinafter shown and described 5 but I prefer to arrange and construct the same as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein (Z is a bolt or pin provided with a threaded end, 01, shank 61 and head d 'lhe eccentric D has an opening ofa size corresponding to the diameter of shank d Consequently center of the end of the journal and properly threaded or tapped to receive end 1 of bolt 01 and the latter screwed up tightly, said eccentric will be held in an immovable position by bolt-head d and axle-journalB, so as to revolve with the latter. Such construction not only provides for the proper securement of eccentric D in position, but also furnishes the means for adjusting said eccentric to vary the throw of the pump or plunger and thereby increase or decrease the amount of oil supplied to the journal -bearing, such adjustment being accomplished by simply loosening bolt 61 and turning the eccentric on its bearing either to the right or to the left until the required throw or motion for the pump is obtained, whereupon bolt 01 is then tightened and the eccentric is again secured to the journal, as before.

F represents a link, loosely fitting eccentric D at one end, and is likewise secured at its opposite end to pump by a pin,f. Said pin is of sufficient length to permit the axle to make its usuallongitudinal movement in the boxes without interference with the free reciprocation of the pump or plunger C. Thelatter is provided with a branch tube, C, which proceeds by any suitable path to the axle-bearin g, projecting over the top of the same, as shown, so that any oil flowing out of the end of said pipe will fall onto and pass through said bearing to provide for proper lubrication of the same.

The operationis asfollows: Theaxle-journal, revolving, carries the eccentric D therewith to vertically reciprocate pump or plunger C in its bearings c c by a positive movement in both directions. Consequently such pump will always be in operation as long as the ear to which said parts are attached continues to travel, no matter whether it is moving slowly or at a high rate of speed, or whether the oil in the box is in athickened or pasty condition, or otherwise; hence the provision of so operating the pump produces an oiling attachment which will perform its work under any and all circumstances during the movement of the car. The greater the speed of travel the larger the quantity of the oil pumped to the bearings of the axles, while the slower the speed the less the amount of oil so pumped; hence the rate of travel of the car automatically provides for the requisite amount of oil necessary to be supplied to the journals to effect their proper lubrication. As said plunger or pump reciprocates its enlarged or flaring end 0 moves in the oil-well of axlebox, and its lower edge being larger than its upper or contracted end,thcoilis therebyforced through valve 0 into said plunger with great velocity. Consequently such oil passes through pipe C and thence to the journal-bearing with a degree of velocity that it not only causes such oil to lubricate the axle and its bearing, but also wash off therefrom any particles of grit or other matter adhering thereto, and thereby lessens the wear and tear of such parts, and prevents undue liability of the same to cut or heat. Such result is eflected by giving to the pump a very small throw or movement; hence the provision of such enlarged end for the pump permits the extent of the reciprocation or throw of the pump to be shortened without decreasing the amount of oil supplied to the bearings or diminishing the velocity of the oil so supplied or pumped. Such form of pump is not only better adapted for the purpose which it is designed to subserve, but it is also less complicated in construction than those heretofore used for car-axle boxes. Consequently it is not so liable to get out of order, and is therefore more durable.

Instead of using the connecting-link F between the pump C and eccentric D the arm 0 ofpump may be extended up in front of the axle-journal and be provided with an elongated slot, 0 in which said eccentric passes and moves, as represented in Fig. 3. In such case, as well as in the modifications to be described, the eccentric or equivalent deviceis made long enough to accommodate'or compensate for the usual longitudinal movement of the axle in the boxes, in order that such movement may not interfere with the operation of the pump.

Fig. 4 shows a modification of my invention, wherein the pump C is downwardly reciprocated by a cam, Gr, secured to journal, as shown, and is reversely moved by means of a surrounding coiled or other spring, H, which serves to hold said pump against said cam.

If desired, the cam G may be dispensed with, and in lieu thereof the periphery ofthe flange bofjournal may be mutilated or filed away, as shown at N, Fig. 5, or a lug, I)", may be secured to such periphery, as shown in Fig. 6. The result in all said constructions being the same-to wit, moving the pump in one direction by the revolution of the axle-journal and reversely reciprocating the same by the spring,

Fig. 7 shows a construction of the pump wherein I is the body of the same. I represents a casting formed with a slot, 1', for the cam or eccentric D to operatetherein, and with an annular chamber or passage-way, 2', having outlet The latter receives or telescopes with the end of outlet-pipe 0 which is, in this case, stationary and secured to the axle-bearing or to the axle-box, said pipe 0 thereby forming a bearing, 6 for the pump to work in, i being the remaining bearing, placed as shown. Such construction of thepum p I deem a preferable one, for the reason that the pump only reciproca-tes, its outlet-pipe to journal and hearing remaining in one fixed and immovable position.

In Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown several ways of constructing the eccentric D. In Fig. 9 the bolt or pin (1 has its shank (I made eccentric in outline, or said bolt may be cylindrical but attached to the axle eccentrically to the center thereof, the extent of such eccentricity depending upon the throw or movement desired for the plunger or pump. Such construction is shown-in Fig. 10.

I have described and shown my improved pump as operated by the revolution of the caraxle journal; but it is evident that the same may be so arranged that it may be operated by thejarriug or jolting motion ofatraveling car, either by providing suitable connection between said pump and the car-pedestal or by the employment of attached springs and weights.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. An oiling device or attachment for caraxle boxes consisting of a tube or cylinder havin g an exit-orifice, a valve-seat and valve, and flaring or enlarged lower end or inlet orifice, said tube or cylinder being designed and adapted to be reciprocated, substantially as shown and described. 7

2. An oiling device for car-axle boxes consisting of body I, coupling 1, having slot t and chamber or passage-way t", terminating in an outlet, '5 the body I being provided with a valve, 0 and enlargedor flaring'end 0 said parts being adapted and designed to be reciproeated, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an oiling device for car-axleboxes, the combination of a tube or cylinder, suitably valved and designed and adapted to be reciprocated, with a stationary exit or conducting pipe therefor, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 

